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ERIC Number: EJ1194728
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1559-5676
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Management of Food Allergies in Schools
Sauer, Kevin; Patten, Emily; Roberts, Kevin; Schartz, Michael
Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, v42 n2 Fall 2018
Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to collect current baseline data about food allergy management in school districts. The guiding objectives included determining the extent of food allergy accommodations and frequency of allergic reactions in schools, in addition to assessing management strategies implemented by school nutrition programs. Methods: The research design included an online questionnaire designed to address the research objectives. It was distributed to a randomized national sample of child nutrition program directors (n = 5,592). Results: Participants responded to pre-screening and various conditional branching questions. Usable survey responses totaled 480. Responses represented demographic and operational diversity. Nearly all reporting school districts provided meals to students with allergies to peanuts (97%) and milk (94%), followed closely by tree nuts (77%), wheat (77%), and eggs (71%). About 79% of the school districts reported maintaining appropriate documentation for students with food allergies, with school nurses (58%) primarily responsible for maintaining said documentation. Approximately 74% of the respondents indicated that their district had a plan for managing food allergies, and of those, most (74%) indicated their plans were about 76% complete. Applications To Child Nutrition Professionals: A school district's ability to provide allergen-free meals to children with food allergies requires attention and effective communication among many internal and external stakeholders. Food allergy management in schools is also uniquely multidisciplinary as it involves parents, school nutrition staff who prepare and serve food, school nurses who may be responsible when an allergic reaction occurs, teachers, and food manufacturers and suppliers. [This research was funded, in part, with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs.]
School Nutrition Association. 120 Waterfront Street Suite 300, National Harbor, MD 20745. Tel: 301-686-3100; Fax: 301-686-3115; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: http://schoolnutrition.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: US Department of Agriculture
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A